MARINE CORPS WEAPONS & VEHICLES

ARTILLERY SYSTEMS AND MORTARS

and precision IDF weapon system. HIMARS accurately engages
target ranges — in excess of 40 miles — with high volumes of
lethal precision fires in all weather conditions and throughout all
phases of combat operations ashore. Initial operational capability
(IOC) as achieved on Sept. 20, 2014.

BRIEFING: The M224A1 60mm mortar is a smooth-bore,
muzzle-loaded, crew-served weapon providing indirect fires
in support of company-level operations that can be fired from
a pit emplacement or in handheld mode. The complete mortar
in the conventional mode weighs 35. 4 pounds; in the handheld
mode it weighs 16. 6 pounds. It can be fired at the rapid rate of

30 rounds per minute for four minutes and continue firing at
the sustained rate of 20 rounds per minute indefinitely. It has
a maximum range of 3,500 meters. The mortar squad of one
complete 60mm mortar system consists of three Marines.

M252A2 81MM MORTAR

BRIEFING: The M252A2 81mm mortar is a crew-served,
smooth-bore, muzzle-loaded, high-angle-fire weapon providing indirect fires in support of battalion-level operations. The
system weighs 77. 7 pounds. It can be fired at the rapid rate of

30 rounds per minute for two minutes and continue firing at
the sustained rate of 15 rounds per minute indefinitely. It has
a maximum range of more than 5,800 meters. One complete

81mm mortar system is operated by five Marines.

M327 EXPEDITIONARY FIRE
SUPPORT SYSTEM (EFSS)

BRIEFING: The EFSS is the third and final system of the land-based fire support triad that includes the M777A2 Lightweight
155mm Howitzer and the HIMARS. Accompanying the MAGTF
in all types of expeditionary operations, EFSS is the primary
IDF-support system for the vertical assault element of the ship-to-objective maneuver force for the Marine Corps. The EFSS
consists of a M327 120mm Rifled-Towed Mortar, two Internally
Transportable Vehicles and an ammunition trailer. The EFSS
and its crew are internally transportable in two MV- 22 Ospreys
or two CH-53E helicopters and possess the flexibility and range
required to execute operational maneuver from the sea.

The Corps’ EFSS expands the MAGTF’s fire support options
and provides increased flexibility in tailoring fire support systems to support the scheme of maneuver. The current EFSS
rifled high-explosive ammunition is effective against area and
point targets, to include motorized, light armored and dismounted personnel; command and control systems; and IDF
systems. EFSS-equipped MAGTFs are particularly well-suited
for missions requiring speed, tactical agility, and vertical
transportability. The EFSS is in the operations and support
phase. EFSS achieved IOC in March 2009 and full operational
capability in 2013. The program continues to procure munitions in support of operations and sustainment.

RAM/RS recovery variant. The AAV7A1 RAM/RS FOV provides
ship-to-shore to objective mobility as well as direct fire support with organic weapons. The AAV7A1 RAM/RS FOV will
continue to serve the Marine Corps until at least 2035.

The AAV7A1 RAM/RS FOV has undergone a series of capability enhancements to improve mobility and reliability, and
extend the platform’s service life. The AAV Survivability
Upgrade Program was established to improve the survivability of the AAVP7, serving as a capability bridge to the
fielding of a new Amphibious Combat Vehicle. This initiative will improve force protection and platform survivability
by integrating technically mature designs and subsystems
into approximately 400 existing P7 vehicles. These upgrades
include: belly and sponson armor, blast-mitigating seats,
spall lining, fuel tank protection, deck liners, and automotive and suspension upgrades to maintain current land and
water mobility characteristics associated with increased
weight growth. The upgraded AAVP7s will provide significant
survivability improvements through increased protection
against current and future threats. The AAV Survivability
Upgrade Program achieved its Milestone B decision in May
2014 and entered into the Engineering, Manufacturing and
Development (EMD) Phase with a competitive design effort
with two vendors, BAE and SAIC. In February 2015, SAIC
was awarded an option to continue into the EMD Phase to
complete design and manufacture 10 prototype vehicles,
leading to Developmental Testing in March 2016 and an
Operational Assessment in mid-fiscal 2017. SAIC delivered the
first upgraded AAV7 in March 2016. The program will seek a
Milestone C/Low-Rate Initial Production decision currently
planned in July 2017. IOC is anticipated in fiscal 2019 with full
operational capability in fiscal 2023.